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DECISION: Koo-Tan could leave national team for local club

KOO Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong could resign from the national team if the BA of Malaysia (BAM) decides to split them.

Their future will be deliberated by BAM's coaching and training committee (C&T) on Saturday.

It is learnt that BAM wants to split Kien Keat and Boon Heong following a series of average results despite the pair showing slight progress of late.

Doubles coach Pang Cheh Chang, who coaches Kien Keat-Boon Heong, wants the World No 7 to remain as a pair as others in the national team have stagnated.

There is already a proposal to have Kien Keat and Boon Heong pair up with younger partners only for small tournaments while giving them a grace period of 12 months to compete at next year's World Championships.

BAM, if it carries on with its plans, will split Boon Heong and Kien Keat with Goh V Shem and Lim Khim Wah, respectively.

But Kien Keat and Boon Heong could leave the national team for a local club, who are keen to secure them, if BAM maintains its decision.

"Kien Keat-Boon Heong are under Cheh Chang ... so let him propose what's best for them," said national doubles coach Tan Kim Her yesterday.

Kim Her said his only concern is his eight pairs.

"I will propose a comprehensive programme, which I hope will be approved, to prepare the pairs for the 2014 Asian and Commonwealth Games and also the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics."

On whether a head coach would be a better option rather than a high performance committee to oversee the national squad, Kim Her said it is for BAM to decide.

"(Datuk) James Selvaraj, a member of the committee, is hands-on and demands reports all the time. I like his style, however, it is up to BAM to decide," Kim Her added.

The committee, headed by BAM secretary Ng Chin Chai, is expected to make drastic changes to the existing system on Saturday.